CHAPTER 13: PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
1. Define growth. Name and explain different phases of growth with the help of growth
curve?
ANS. Growth is the most fundamental characteristic of all living organisms. It is an
irreversible and permanent metabolic process. Be it plants, animals, birds or an insect, every
simplest, as well as the most intricate living species, undergo the process of Growth-
increasing in size.
Phases of Growth in Plants
There are three phases of growth – meristematic, elongation and maturation. We can
understand this better by looking at a seed. We already know that the tips of roots and shoots
exhibit continuous growth and hence are meristematic. The cells in this region are rich in
protoplasm and have large nuclei. The cells next to this region represent the elongation
growth phase. In this region, there is the formation of new cell walls, vacuoles etc. The region
next to the elongation phase represents the maturation phase in which the cells attain their
maximal size.
There are two types of growth rates – Arithmetic and Geometric.
In arithmetic growth rate, out of the two daughter cells produced by the mitotic division of a
cell, only one daughter cell continues to divide while the other differentiates and matures.
In the case of the geometrical growth phase, the initial growth is slow and it increases rapidly
thereafter at an exponential rate. In this, both daughter cells retain their ability to divide. The
following curve represents the geometric growth phase:
2. What are the applications and physiological role of Auxin? Explain in detail.
ANS. Auxin is a plant hormone that plays critical physiological roles in cell elongation, apical
dominance, parthenocarpy, and other processes. It is essential for plant body development and
plays an important role in plant life cycles.
The physiological effects of auxin, which are functional effects, are as follows:
1. Apical dominance:
i. When the terminal bud of a mostly tall and sparsely branching vascular
plant is intact and growing, the growth of the lateral buds just below it
is suppressed.
ii. However, removing the apical buds causes the lateral buds to grow
extremely quickly. Apical dominance occurs when the apical bud
dominates the lateral bud and prevents it from growing.
2. Root initiation:
i. A greater concentration of auxins inhibits root elongation, but later
branch roots continue to grow, implying that the higher the
concentration of auxins, the greater the growth of lateral branch roots.
ii. Auxins initiate root growth. The use of AA in lanolin paste is very
important because it is used to form roots in economically useful plants
that are propagated by cuttings.
3. Parthenocarpy:
i. It is the process of developing fruits without fertilization, and these
fruits are known as parthenocarpic fruits.
ii. Auxin has the ability to stimulate the formation of these fruits.
4. Vascular differentiation:
i. Plant differentiation is induced by auxins, according to tissue culture
experiments.
ii. Because cytokines are known to participate in vascular differentiation,
it is influenced by both auxin and cytokinin.
5. Cell elongation:
i. Auxins' primary function is cell elongation, and they are well known to
promote stem and coleoptile elongation.
ii. It also encourages the elongation of cells behind the apical meristem.
When the concentration of auxin is higher on the shaded side, the cells
on that side elongate more quickly, bending the stem tip towards the
unilateral light.
3. What are Plant Hormones? What are the applications and physiological role of
Ethylene? Explain in detail.
ANS. Plant hormones: They are also known as plant growth substances, plant growth
regulators, and phytohormones. The plant growth regulators (PGRs) are small, simple
molecules of diverse chemical composition.
Ethylene is a gaseous phytohormone produced in huge quantities by tissues undergoing
senescence and ripening fruits.
Physiological effects of ethylene:
i. Seed and bud dormancy is broken by ethylene.
ii. Ethylene is an excellent ripening agent.
iii. During fruit ripening, ethylene increases the rate of respiration.
iv. Ethylene causes leaf and blossom senescence and abscission.
v. Ethylene triggers flowering and controls numerous physiological processes.
vi. Ethylene causes peanut seeds to germinate and potato tubers to sprout.
vii. Ethylene also helps plants improve their absorption surface by promoting root growth
and root hair synthesis.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
1. Describe the role of Cytokinin in Agriculture.
ANS. Functions of Cytokinins
i. Break bud and seed dormancy.
ii. Promotes the growth of the lateral bud.
iii. They are used to keep flowers fresh for a longer time.
iv. Promotes nutrient mobilization that in turn assists delaying leaf senescence. Act as a
Anti-Ageing Hormone.
v. Helps in delaying the process of ageing (senescence) in fresh leaf crops like cabbage
and lettuce.
2. Describe the role of Gibberllins in Agriculture.
ANS. Functions of Gibberellins
i. Delay senescence in fruits.
ii. Involved in leaf expansion. Break bud and seed dormancy.
iii. Promote bolting in cabbages and beet.
iv. Facilitate elongation of fruits such as apples and enhance their shape. Helps in
increasing the crop yield by increasing the height in plants such as sugarcane and
increase the axis length in plants such as grape stalks.
v. In young conifers, utilized to fasten the maturity period and facilitate early seed
production.
3. Describe the role of Abscisic acid in Agriculture.
ANS. Functions of Abscisic acid
i. Stimulates closing of stomata in the epidermis. Act as a Stress Hormone.
ii. Helps in the maturation and development of seeds.
iii. Inhibits plant metabolism and seed germination.
iv. It is involved in regulating abscission and dormancy.
v. Induces seed-dormancy and aids in withstanding desiccation and various undesired
growth factors.
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
1. Name two synthetic auxins used in agriculture.
ANS. NAA (naphthalene acetic acid) and 2,4 D (2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) are two
synthetic auxins used in agriculture.
2. What is respiratory climatic?
ANS. Respiratory climatic is referred to as the rise in the rate of respiration during the
ripening of fruits. The rise of respiration is sudden and sharp. It is associated with a plant
hormone known as ethylene. Ethylene is a gaseous plant growth regulator which is associated
with the ripening of the fruits.
3. What is apical dominance?
ANS. The buds that grow apically have a greater dominance over growth than the lateral
buds. Such a phenomenon is called apical dominance.